Process of manufacturing metallic phosphides or alloys rich in phosphorus.



P. E., DEMMLER= PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING METALLIC PHOSPHIDES 0R ALLOYS RICH m PHOSPHORUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-4.1 918.

llllllllIlllllllllllllllllIlllllllllllllllllllllllllll INVENTOR Pal/l EOeWz/er BY ATTORNEY 'or in the vicinity of 1 other parts,

' erators.

STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL E. DEMMLER, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING METALLIC PHOSPHIDES 0R ALLOYS RICH IN PHOS- I PHORUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1'7, 1918.

Application filed February 4, 1918. Serial No. 215,327.

E. DEMMLER, a and a resident My invention relates to processes of manufacturing metallic phosphides and alloys rich in phosphorus, such; for instance, as phosphor-copper, phosphor-tin, phosphorzinc, and the like. I

The object of my invention is to provide a process of the above-indicated character whereby a large quantity of phosphoric material may be produced by simple, compact and inexpensive means and whereby the necessity for handling phosphorus while hot heated crucibles, or is avoided, so that the process is relatively safe and not injurious to the operators While substantially no loss of phosphorus occurs, with the resulting greater economy.

Such phosphides or alloys as phosphorcopper and phosphor-zinc are employed in the manufacture of other alloys in which phosphorus is an important element, such, for instance, as phosphor-bronzes and the like which are used for bearing metals and other purposes. 4

Most processes heretofore employed for the manufacture of materials rich in-phosphorus have required thehandling of phosphorus near heated and under such conditions as have subcrucibles and other parts jected the operators to considerable danger from burning and injury due to the ignition and oxidation of the phosphorus. Furthermore, according to the priorart processes, the phosphorus has ordinarily been placed in crucibles containing molten metals, such as copper, which are exposed to the atmosphere, and, in such cases, the phosphorus has very large loss, sometimes amounting to as much as 50% of the phosphorus, while the fumes or vapors of phosphorus given off are very dangerous and injurious to the opthere is little or no danger of the operators becoming in ured due to burning of the off from it. Thus,

of Allegheny been vaporized, causing a According to the present process,

fumes and vapors given it is very much more safe and materially less expensive than other processes of which I am aware.

One form of apparatus which may be employed in practising my process is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus, and Fig. 2 is an end view of the same. In both of these figures and in the description, like reference numerals represent corresponding parts throughout.

phosphorus or by porting frame 10 having a bracket 11 which holds a receptacle 12 of iron or other suitable metal provided at its'upper open end, with a supporting ange 13. A removable cover plate 14 is secured to, and closes, the receptacle preferably employed as the fastening means in order that the cover 14: may be readily removed.

A second, preferably cylindrical, receptacle 17 is provided, intermediate its ends, with diametrically opposed trunnions 18, by means of which it is mounted between oppositeportions of the frame 10 and is pro vided, at its ends, with attaching flanges 19. Cover plates 20 are secured to the ends of the receptacle by means of bolts 21 and nuts 22. A pipe 23 leads from the cover plate 1 1 to a T coupling 24 from one branch of which a pipe 25 leads through the adjacent cover plate 20. The other branch of the coupling 24 is closed by a removable plug 26. The other cover plate 20 is provided with a vent, opening 27. A pipe 28, leading from any suitable source of carbon dioxid or other inert gas,

receptacle 12 through its cover 14: in order that both of the receptacles may be filled with such inert gas in practising the process. Gas burners 29 and 30 of suitable design, or heaters of any other desired type, are supplied for the receptacles 12 and 17.

- In practising my processof forming phosphorus alloys, the proper quantity of the metal to be alloyedwith the phosphorus is placed in the receptacle 17 and the proper quantity of phosphorus to combine with it is placed in the receptacle 12, after which all the cover plates are secured, as shown in Fig. 1, and carbon dioxid is passed through communicates with the This apparatus includes a suitable sup- 'the phosphorus vapors.

the receptacles to drive out all air and provide an inert atmosphere in the entire apparatus.

Both receptacles are then heated, the copper, if such is the metal being ing first heated toabout 400 ing point, which is substantially 290 centigrade. Under these circumstances, the phosphorus is volatilize-d and its vapors or gases pass .from the receptacle 12 to'the receptacle 1? and there combine with the heated copper or other metal contained therein.

zinc is the metal being treated, heated to a temperature just below its melting point, at which temperature it will combine with the phosphorus vapors. Thus, the degree to which the combining metal must difference it is phosphor-zinc.

the copper, or corresponding metal, is in the form of turnings or millings as, in this form, it has a-larger exposed surface which facilitates its combining with Furthermore, turnings or millings being in the nature of a waste product, are relatively cheap. At the temperatures under which the process is carried on, all of the phosphorus passing to the receptacle 1? will combine with the metal so that there is no escape of phosphorus vapors from the apparatus through the vent opening 27. A su cient supply of carbon dioxid should be provided during the entire process to insure against any oxidation and consequent loss of the phosphorus.

After the phosphorus has been passed into the-receptacle 17 and combined with the cop per, or other metal, as above described, the cover plate 14 and the cover plate 20, more remote from the receptacle 12, may be removed so that the receptacle 17 may be swung upon its trunnions to discharge the phosphorus-treated copper or other metal. This phosphorus-treated copper, or other metal, is then melted and cast into ingots or other forms suitable for use.

I have found that, by following the abovedescribed process, a phosphorus-copper alloy of any desired proportions may be readily made with practically no loss of material, the loss of phosphorus being approximately one per cent. at the most. Because of this conservation of the phosphorus, the method is much cheaper than those previously employed and far safer, as no poisonous fumes or vapors escape, and there IS no possibility of the phosphorus being ignited in the air, the phosphorus not being handled while hot or'while' near heated crucibles or other apparatus.

Although I have illustrated one form of apparatus which may be employed in more or less detail, it will, of course, be understood that I reserve the right to use anv form of apparatus which may be suitable for practising my process, and to make an modifications in the process itself which may be found advisable, particularly when forming different alloys of phosphorus, provided such changes are within the scope of the claims.

I claim as my invention:

process of forming a phosphorus alloy of copper which comprises heating the copper and passing phosphorus vapors to the copper when so heated, the temperature being so governed that the phosphorus combines with the copper without melting of the copper.

2. A process of forming a phosphorus alloy of copper which comprises heating the copper to a temperature of approximately 400 C. and passing phosphorus vapors, to-

gether with an inert gas, to the copper when so heated.

3. A process of forming a phosphorus alloy of copper which comprises heating the copper to a temperature of approximately 400 C. and passing phosphorus vapors to the copper when so heated.

' e process of forming alloys of metals, such as copper or zinc, with an elephosphorus, which comprises passing the vapor of the element to the metal at a temperature below that at which either the metal or the resultant alloy will melt, the metal being maintained at such temperature.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 31st day of Jan, 1918. 

